Juniata Chemistry Students Honored in Washington, D.C.

(Posted June 2, 2004)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Two Juniata College students, Christopher Spiese, a recent 2004 graduate from York, Pa., and Marsha Loth, a junior from Hollidaysburg, Pa., had their chemistry research project displayed at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington, D.C. April 20.

The student's project, "Detection of Heavy Metals in Acid Mine Drainage by Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy," was one of 80 undergraduate research projects from across the United States chosen for the exhibit. The exhibit was sponsored by the Council for Undergraduate Research.

The students' research project used an analytical instrument, the laser-induced breakdown spectrometer, to determine the presence of heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and cadmium in acid mine drainage.

The work of the student researchers featured in the Capitol Hill poster session was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Geological Survey, NASA, the Department of Agriculture and many other federal, state, and private agencies.